July 10, after decades, I finally get to witness the brilliance of Thomas Dolby live in houston! Counting down the days to 7/10/2024 and finally hearing this. I pray he still plays this, my fave song.
Thomas Dolby embodied the best of the 80s: a blend of electronic synth pop with organic, real instruments and intelligent lyrics reflecting his personal outlook on the world, as seen through the eyes of a young man both at home in and yet not of this earth.
THIS IS LIFE... You young children watching this do not and never will know or realize what life is or how to experience it. I shed a tear for you. This song is perfect.
I've found that people generally don't appreciate or enjoy true talent and skill, especially when it comes to music. If it doesn't sound awful and generic, there's no public interest.
I remember when this song came out, I worked the graveyard shift in a waterbed factory in Moundhouse NV, every night like clock work on the way to work, the radio station that we listened to would play this at the same time every friggin night, listening to Thomas Dolby while driving through the Nevada desert after midnight was a very surreal experience, surreal and haunting. Beautiful, well crafted piece of music, pure genius.
I'm born in 1966, and in the U.S. It took me decades to understand that, besides some minor Cold War nervousness, WWII didn't impact (scar) us over here. They placated us here statesside with TV dinners and any products containing space-age polymers. Scars make good art. How do you thank a fella like Mr. Dolby for his work? Folks, don't ask him about the Nokia ringtone synthesizer situation. It'd probably make him blush. Oops gotta hang up, there's gonna be a cloudburst here.
@@08prema Totally tubular! In 1984 they totally had a solar eclipse during my high school graduation rehearsal. They let us go outside to enjoy it. Did you see the eclipse that day where you were? It was gnarly.
THIS was the first Thomas Dolby song I heard on the radio. On a rock station in between the Led Zeppelin and whatever else was played on AOR back in the early 80’s. It blew my little mind and changed my life. Thank you, Mr. Dolby.
Same here. And to think you might have heard it right after Led Zeppelin but before Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You" which was dominated by Thomas Dolby's keyboards.
I have listened to this song for over 40 years. And will always love the respect and remembrance and hommage this man gives to the fallen. Even at 16 years old. I always loved this song. Thank you Mr. Dolby for your remembrance and countless days of tribute. I also bought your albums when vinal was a thing in the early 80s. Thanks Mr Dolby!
Today (well like five minutes ago) I heard this song for the first time that song was awesome now it’s my favorite by him actually one of my favorite songs ever now
A monumental song, and a personal piece of art. "Bye bye Empire, Empire, bye bye. Shallow water, channel tide..." You can feel the grief of those sailors and those left behind.
If the hair on your arms go up you know the sound your hear is gold...... I am grateful to have been alive when you were doing what you do back then.... Back when music had melody and talent. A canvas of sound filled by many in those two decades 80 -90. So good and powerful it was its rare to hear now on radio stations today. Banished for brilliance replaced with less than mediocre...
Originally it was only a b-side to "She blinded me with silence," on that EP or the album. So it's not at all surprising you missed it - I remember buying SBMWS and being blown away by this as a tiny, couldn't work out why it wasn't a single. Would have been the perfect follow-up to " Windpower" and they're probably still my fave two songs today 🤗
Tommy Dolby great artist good at creating it this one is my favorite out of the bunch I have a hunch he will be at it again with some thing new I hope 🙂
One of our fruit machines is missing! It took me 35 years to dig up why Nik Kershaw named his song so. Thomas Dolby is a genius. Especially the Obsidian soundtrack.
My favourite Thomas Dolby song - so unusual, original and interesting. This live show inspired me to provide video backdrops for bands, loosely or closely related to the music being played, many years later!
Headlines for the past 3 days have been about a missing tourist submarine with 5 souls on board. I am surprised I'm the first person to equate that incident with this song. As of the time of this comment, they have not yet found the sub and hope of saving the passengers is almost completely gone.
I remember I saw this on a TV show in the eighties, and even though I was into progressive rock mainly at the time, and played in a couple bands that didn't do pop songs. I instantly liked this song, and this live version is what I saw.
This song still sounds as incredible as the first time I had the album and ep and forget which it was on. The lyrics were very different from all the other music that came before and the synth took you to a different world that ended up being the future. Very few followed these banks coming out of the UK when it was new. We who followed it from the beginning were called freaks until they mainstream America was exposed much later in the 80’s. Yeah, now many swear by the 80’s music and fashions, but many were also the haters before they were exposed to it and didn’t just wake up and started loving this music. Many were doing what everyone else was doing and didn’t want to be associated with this music bc they didn’t think it was cool and would wreck their image of cool. So it was just me and my friend Tina in our whole district and neighborhood that was into this music in 82. One reason was bc she had cable tv and always had MTV on like a radio in the living room. So we fell in love with this music and fashion and tried to find more music like this coming out of the UK. Back then when you went to a record store, they were mostly rock and soul and had bits of these newer UK groups, but had little knowledge on those groups. I remember seeing this interesting album cover and it was Spandal Ballet (sp) and since it was like $25. I ask how it was and the store clerk had no idea. Can you imagine these groups were so new, even the store clerks had no idea and just ordered one copy to see if anyone knew them and would buy. That album turned out to had 2 major hits that are now iconic songs from the 80’s. So back then you could have the only album of a particular artist in your while city or state, But I didn’t care and was on this mission to catch it from the beginning bc I knew this music was special.
Brilliant. 1976. Through 1980. Great era to grow up in. Thomas Dolby will always bring back Great times. One of my all time favs. Being a drummer 1986 thru 1997. Our band was all musicians. Rhode Island USA. Talking heads Cars. Played at the living room in Providence. Rush also toured ever year and played the Providence Civic Center. Pawtucket Rhode Island is where the Rhode Island Hall of fame for musicians is located at the Met. New England was a hot spot for Rock and Roll.
Thomas Dolby is playing a Roland Jupiter-8. The jupiter-8 can have two sounds split on the keyboard. The drums are being played live. Drum pads are connected to a Fairlight C.M.I. IIx off stage. The Fairlight is also doing the sond effects. The echoed missing is also done live. Thomas says the word missing into the Fairlight and has it repeat.. This is taken from the Live Wireless recording.
Golden Age of Wireless is one of the albums that got me through my last years of university. Listened to this with my weight lifting partner every time we lifted. Dolby is gold.
Especially this song but the whole album "The Golden Age of Wireless" is absolutely meant to be listened to on good headphones. The 3D stereo sound of it all is just magnificent.
when i first heard & watched this on M TV it blew me away + all his other songs are awesome,he is A musical genius,ahead of his time,i quit listening to this song when i worked on nuclear subs,we watched videos of a couple subs sinking (Thresher & Scorpion)always made me respect the silent service Mariners who sacrifice there lives for all of us every second while they are submerged and away from family & friends. what a sacrifice never knowing if you are coming back from your mission.
Dear god, that falsetto he hits @3:50 is GOLDEN. and he looks SO DAMN YOUNG! i can't imagine fronting a badass synth pop group at the age of 25 or whatever the hell he is here. what a weird and singular artist this guy is/was. he sounds like nobody else.
Really takes me back to the early 80's I remember me and my first real girlfriend jamming this and those times when just me and my sister and cousin frank were around we would play this among funky groove songs because this song while it has serious lyrics has a groove about it that is smooth and draws you into the song......
KROQ 106.7 in Pasadena, California was an intriguing platform for new wave and alternative music in the 1980’s. So many unique and innovative artists were launched from that radio station. I miss those times. But life moves on. God speed every one who’s here and those that have crossed over.
Every note, every drum fill... I feel like I have known this song intimately for my entire adult life... it is one of those special pieces that just has intense meaning for me... I saw him do it (at least in part) live a few years ago and it was just special... I love all of Thomas's music but if I was forced to pick a favourite I think I would have to say this.
Oh man,... this sounds so good ! and I don't even like live music ??!? lol and all those instruments and how good they merge. And the m a g i c: 2:20 > the guitar parts, the keys and then the modulation at the end > That's just fantastic. :-) A great joy to watch.
Only a quarter of a million views? There should be millions! Such an awesome song and the sounds he creates puts you under the waves in the submarine.....
Anyone listening to this classic in 2024?
yes, it feels like 2009 all over again, (That's when this was uploaded) I swear I listen to so much 80s in the late 2000s, now I'm back at it.
At least one or twice a month and I wasn’t even alive during the 80s, haha
always, just got the cd
I am. Trying to work out a trip to England to see him and Martin McAloon in August.
Yes. We are still here. Not missing
gosh I love this song. some nights I cannot fall asleep cause this song just plays over and over in my head.
July 10, after decades, I finally get to witness the brilliance of Thomas Dolby live in houston! Counting down the days to 7/10/2024 and finally hearing this. I pray he still plays this, my fave song.
Dude, I’m jelly! Have fun for those of us who can’t be there. And say hi to Europa.
Saw him perform last night, and yes he played this :^)
He played it last night in Irving. It was brilliant.
Still love this song and I'm 55 years old. I miss the 80's.
We all do
I'm 55 also. In late 1982 I remember hearing this before he blew up with "Blinded by Science". It will always be captivating.
Thomas Dolby embodied the best of the 80s: a blend of electronic synth pop with organic, real instruments and intelligent lyrics reflecting his personal outlook on the world, as seen through the eyes of a young man both at home in and yet not of this earth.
So many people used to respond " who is thomas dolby " when i told them i listened to him. Boy were they clueless.
a hyper hyperbole!
One of my all time favorite musicians. This song is my favorite of his.
Not to mention a much needed dose of humour!
So... anyone else listening to this song on or after June 22, 2023?
Listening now 2024🤓
Listened to it your years
Still listening Mar 2024.
Always on the deck...
Here for it on June 4, 2024
Dolby is to keyboards like Hendrix is to guitar.
Spot on
Damn Straight
Couldn't agree more with this statement!!
Agree
@ReaktorLeak Or Keith Emerson.
THIS IS LIFE... You young children watching this do not and never will know or realize what life is or how to experience it. I shed a tear for you. This song is perfect.
He was a keyboard ,sampler, techno genius...New Wave master.......Bravo sir...
Hugely underrated artist of the 80s, really meaningful lyrics and amazing tunes!
The 80's culture was largely too shallow and materialistic to appreciate meaningful lyrics.
Totally agree very underrated
@@elizabethf8078 Sadly that is true!
@@wendywilkins2575 Very
What makes you believe he's underrated?
73 years young still love it ❤️
High quality music withstands the test of time. I heard this for the first time in 2024 and I love it.
I’m surprised this song isn’t getting more streams right now
I've found that people generally don't appreciate or enjoy true talent and skill, especially when it comes to music. If it doesn't sound awful and generic, there's no public interest.
Most people have smooth brains@@TheVideogamemaster9
😂😂😂
I remember when this song came out, I worked the graveyard shift in a waterbed factory in Moundhouse NV, every night like clock work on the way to work, the radio station that we listened to would play this at the same time every friggin night, listening to Thomas Dolby while driving through the Nevada desert after midnight was a very surreal experience, surreal and haunting. Beautiful, well crafted piece of music, pure genius.
Good story. 80's music was such an improvement over 70's music.
Ah - so that's why Lake Mead is running dry. It's all those water beds 🙂
I'm back. I commented three years ago. Love this song ❤️ Beautiful composition.
I'm born in 1966, and in the U.S.
It took me decades to understand that,
besides some minor Cold War nervousness,
WWII didn't impact (scar) us over here.
They placated us here statesside with TV dinners and any products containing space-age polymers.
Scars make good art.
How do you thank a fella like Mr. Dolby for his work?
Folks, don't ask him about the Nokia ringtone synthesizer situation.
It'd probably make him blush.
Oops gotta hang up, there's gonna be a cloudburst here.
I too was born in 1966, and the 80's was the best decade for the young. I am a proud GenXer!
@@08prema Totally tubular!
In 1984 they totally had a solar eclipse during my high school graduation rehearsal.
They let us go outside to enjoy it.
Did you see the eclipse that day where you were? It was gnarly.
THIS was the first Thomas Dolby song I heard on the radio. On a rock station in between the Led Zeppelin and whatever else was played on AOR back in the early 80’s. It blew my little mind and changed my life. Thank you, Mr. Dolby.
Same here. And to think you might have heard it right after Led Zeppelin but before Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You" which was dominated by Thomas Dolby's keyboards.
From back in the day when Rock music didn't mean the instruments used in the song, but the attitude and quality of the song.
I have listened to this song for over 40 years. And will always love the respect and remembrance and hommage this man gives to the fallen. Even at 16 years old.
I always loved this song. Thank you Mr. Dolby for your remembrance and countless days of tribute. I also bought your albums when vinal was a thing in the early 80s. Thanks Mr Dolby!
Thomas was so ahead of his time...
My favorite Dolby song!
Mine too! :)
Today (well like five minutes ago) I heard this song for the first time that song was awesome now it’s my favorite by him actually one of my favorite songs ever now
Oh yeah and you are awesome for liking this and you have great taste in music😊
This one and if you haven’t heard it valley of the minds eye is a beautiful amazing song
Same here!!! It gives me chills...since 1981!!!!
So romantic and nostalgic
one of my favorite Dolby songs.
A monumental song, and a personal piece of art.
"Bye bye Empire, Empire, bye bye. Shallow water, channel tide..."
You can feel the grief of those sailors and those left behind.
Much love from Germany. After all, we invented this genre. :)
This feels very relevant today
Damn, this still sounds like it was just released. Thomas Rocks the epitome of 80's cool...
One, if not the best synth pop example to this day.
WindPower
Airwaves
It’s not one. it is the best I love this song I still think his coolest song is valley of the minds eye
Depeche were good but they became very commercial
What a wonderful sound!
Thomas Dolbys music is so inspirative.
Thomas Dolby...... GENIUS!!!!!!
Love all the genuine energy, added nuances and evocative sounds of this live version... beautifully different to the recorded album version.
Close to the greatest song EVER.....no joke
I love how science and electronic music are ensambled with his music. I am female who wants to be a bacteriologist i feel happy to hear his music.
1983 was the peak for dance music much of it from Europe. Dolby big part of it.
If the hair on your arms go up you know the sound your hear is gold...... I am grateful to have been alive when you were doing what you do back then.... Back when music had melody and talent. A canvas of sound filled by many in those two decades 80 -90. So good and powerful it was its rare to hear now on radio stations today. Banished for brilliance replaced with less than mediocre...
You're too old and ignorant to appreciate modern talents... Says more about your own mediocrity...
Agreed.
Us Gen X’ers got to experience some of the best music EVER produced!
and younger boomers🙂
That is truest statement ever.
Gen x here and so glad we got to live it.
Word!
Some of the guitar licks are superb!
Thomas Dolby, he's the man 👊👊
This song popped into my head today. RIP all. Tragedy seems inevitable at this stage.
Just brilliant
Absolutely love this song getting goosebumps watching this
Yes same here.
His voice always gives me the chills. Pretty much any song.
The break and the first notes always get me
Happy 62th birthday Mr. Dolby! You inspired me so much to buy the many synthesizers I still own today. Thank you!!!
I grew up in the 80's and somehow missed this song. Amazing...as is all his music.
Originally it was only a b-side to "She blinded me with silence," on that EP or the album. So it's not at all surprising you missed it - I remember buying SBMWS and being blown away by this as a tiny, couldn't work out why it wasn't a single. Would have been the perfect follow-up to " Windpower" and they're probably still my fave two songs today 🤗
Totally fired up for London!
Love this song and loved the live version TD played for us in Oakland this year at the TT Festival
It's absolutely a master piece
This song still sounds crispy, still....in 2024
Tommy Dolby great artist good at creating it this one is my favorite out of the bunch I have a hunch he will be at it again with some thing new I hope 🙂
No one can touch Dolby!! He to me is pure frigging genius.Listen to the lyrics....DAM. true story.!!
His autobiography is excellent - The Speed of Sound
One of our fruit machines is missing! It took me 35 years to dig up why Nik Kershaw named his song so. Thomas Dolby is a genius. Especially the Obsidian soundtrack.
The whole album, The Golden Age of Wireless, is a classic! One of my fav’s in the 1980’s that I still listen to today.
His arrangements and compositions are brilliantly creative
I remember first hearing him in high school in the early 80's! Awesome! Love that move he makes at 3:15 mark! Good ole Jupiter-8!
This song deserves to be a hit.
As I recall, it was.
This and "I love you goodbuy" are 2 of the greatest song ever written...
The man is a legend
Add “Oceania”. Another truly lovely song.
I’d like to add “Airwaves”
Flat Earth also
My favourite Thomas Dolby song - so unusual, original and interesting. This live show inspired me to provide video backdrops for bands, loosely or closely related to the music being played, many years later!
Impressive, massive, wonderful song and so talented genius Thomas..!! One of our submarines is missing!!
I wore out the Cassette & Made another from the CD! .. It's missing tonite. (I may have run aground...)
✨🎶🌊⚓🌊🎶✨
Still one of my favorite songs! Love it. Thomas Dolby is an incredible talent! Underrated.
I feel like l'm floating and falling slowly ḍown to the deep end of the ocean...
Headlines for the past 3 days have been about a missing tourist submarine with 5 souls on board. I am surprised I'm the first person to equate that incident with this song. As of the time of this comment, they have not yet found the sub and hope of saving the passengers is almost completely gone.
You aren't the first.
Thank you for convincing me to look into more of his music, Todd in the Shadows
I grew up listening to you your one of my favorite odd balls !
Enjoyed this. This could even be a pub song. 👍
Awesome! Poor uncle...........
One of those songs that takes you to the place and time ...music is awesome
Great song.
Amazing and innovative.
Another Favorite Tune of mine you did.
Great version!!🔥🔥
Dolby always in my heart!
Song has always reminded me of the Frank Herbert short story "Dragon Under the Sea", also titled "Under Pressure".
His music is beautiful and captivating... I almost feel like I'm in trance when I listen to it 💚
I remember I saw this on a TV show in the eighties, and even though I was into progressive rock mainly at the time, and played in a couple bands that didn't do pop songs. I instantly liked this song, and this live version is what I saw.
This song still sounds as incredible as the first time I had the album and ep and forget which it was on. The lyrics were very different from all the other music that came before and the synth took you to a different world that ended up being the future.
Very few followed these banks coming out of the UK when it was new. We who followed it from the beginning were called freaks until they mainstream America was exposed much later in the 80’s. Yeah, now many swear by the 80’s music and fashions, but many were also the haters before they were exposed to it and didn’t just wake up and started loving this music. Many were doing what everyone else was doing and didn’t want to be associated with this music bc they didn’t think it was cool and would wreck their image of cool.
So it was just me and my friend Tina in our whole district and neighborhood that was into this music in 82. One reason was bc she had cable tv and always had MTV on like a radio in the living room. So we fell in love with this music and fashion and tried to find more music like this coming out of the UK.
Back then when you went to a record store, they were mostly rock and soul and had bits of these newer UK groups, but had little knowledge on those groups. I remember seeing this interesting album cover and it was Spandal Ballet (sp) and since it was like $25. I ask how it was and the store clerk had no idea. Can you imagine these groups were so new, even the store clerks had no idea and just ordered one copy to see if anyone knew them and would buy. That album turned out to had 2 major hits that are now iconic songs from the 80’s. So back then you could have the only album of a particular artist in your while city or state, But I didn’t care and was on this mission to catch it from the beginning bc I knew this music was special.
Didn’t realize how dapper Thomas Dolby was back when this video was made.
Brilliant. 1976. Through 1980. Great era to grow up in. Thomas Dolby will always bring back Great times. One of my all time favs. Being a drummer 1986 thru 1997. Our band was all musicians. Rhode Island USA. Talking heads Cars. Played at the living room in Providence. Rush also toured ever year and played the Providence Civic Center. Pawtucket Rhode Island is where the Rhode Island Hall of fame for musicians is located at the Met. New England was a hot spot for Rock and Roll.
Just brilliant musical poetry. Have got all his albums. Absolute best of the 80s. Thank you,Thomas.
Well said that man. Thank you Thomas.
Thomas Dolby is playing a Roland Jupiter-8. The jupiter-8 can have two sounds split on the keyboard. The drums are being played live. Drum pads are connected to a Fairlight C.M.I. IIx off stage. The Fairlight is also doing the sond effects. The echoed missing is also done live. Thomas says the word missing into the Fairlight and has it repeat.. This is taken from the Live Wireless recording.
I used to rock this song my first time stationed in Germany in the 80s
Golden Age of Wireless is one of the albums that got me through my last years of university. Listened to this with my weight lifting partner every time we lifted. Dolby is gold.
not on the original,so you must have a remaster.
Especially this song but the whole album "The Golden Age of Wireless" is absolutely meant to be listened to on good headphones. The 3D stereo sound of it all is just magnificent.
Bye bye Empire. Time's illusions drown in the tide. I never understood this song. But I still love it.
when i first heard & watched this on M TV it blew me away + all his other songs are awesome,he is A musical genius,ahead of his time,i quit listening to this song when i worked on nuclear subs,we watched videos of a couple subs sinking (Thresher & Scorpion)always made me respect the silent service Mariners who sacrifice there lives for all of us every second while they are submerged and away from family & friends. what a sacrifice never knowing if you are coming back from your mission.
Remember playing this almost non-stop 20 yrs ago when the Kursk was lost. Even called up the radio station to dedicate this to those poor souls.
One of the very best songs of the era. Brilliant video this too.
Somebody get this man to Womadelaide this year.
Dear god, that falsetto he hits @3:50 is GOLDEN. and he looks SO DAMN YOUNG!
i can't imagine fronting a badass synth pop group at the age of 25 or whatever the hell he is here.
what a weird and singular artist this guy is/was. he sounds like nobody else.
Weirdly, I miss the more imprecise, muffled sound of recording this on cassette tape from the radio.
Really takes me back to the early 80's I remember me and my first real girlfriend jamming this and those times when just me and my sister and cousin frank were around we would play this among funky groove songs because this song while it has serious lyrics has a groove about it that is smooth and draws you into the song......
Thank you so much! I spent much time partying with submariners in Connecticut at barracks on the Subbase USA. Listening in 2022
KROQ 106.7 in Pasadena, California was an intriguing platform for new wave and alternative music in the 1980’s. So many unique and innovative artists were launched from that radio station. I miss those times. But life moves on. God speed every one who’s here and those that have crossed over.
Great great song
Back in tha Day! Okay, lots of days. The under-aquatic audio helped me get those U-Boats! PING!
Back in the Day? Is that a half Decade? a Full-Decade? Or Multi-Decades? I ask, because I care!
Brilliant mate... always loved your art and music!
Nice to see TD performing with a band--adds a lot of energy! But it's hard to dance to such a haunting, sad song.
Just nod along, and sway a bit
1:20 Did he just hawk tuah on the mic? 😅
Houston, TX...July 10th!!! 2024!!! Hope he does this one!!
Every note, every drum fill... I feel like I have known this song intimately for my entire adult life... it is one of those special pieces that just has intense meaning for me... I saw him do it (at least in part) live a few years ago and it was just special... I love all of Thomas's music but if I was forced to pick a favourite I think I would have to say this.
This song has alway been one of my favs!! Godspeed to you my friends !!
He’s an absolute beast. An actual genius.
Oh man,... this sounds so good !
and I don't even like live music ??!? lol
and all those instruments and how good they merge.
And the m a g i c: 2:20 > the guitar parts, the keys
and then the modulation at the end > That's just fantastic. :-)
A great joy to watch.
Indeed. Roland Jupiter8!
Thanks to someone who shared the background story behind this song - Thomas'uncle who died in a WW2 submaine.
Only a quarter of a million views? There should be millions! Such an awesome song and the sounds he creates puts you under the waves in the submarine.....